Pet Cemetary

In reading my friend, Donna's blog, and her links, I found this...this is such a gorgeous and sad poem for a dog who has passed...I ball like a baby everytime I read it...I remember when Donna read it to me over the phone, and we both were crying like babies. This comes from a link of hers, Sam, A Dog. It is his memoriam post.


I've changed my ways a little; I cannot now
Run with you in the evenings along the shore,
Except in a kind of dream; and you, if you dream a moment,
You see me there.

So leave awhile the paw-marks on the front door
Where I used to scratch to go out or in,
And you'd soon open; leave on the kitchen floor
The marks of my drinking-pan.

I cannot lie by your fire as I used to do
On the warm stone,
Nor at the foot of your bed; no, all the night through
I lie alone.

But your kind thought has laid me less than six feet
Outside your window where firelight so often plays,
And where you sit to read--and I fear often grieving for me--
Every night your lamplight lies on my place.

You, man and woman, live so long, it is hard
To think of you ever dying
A little dog would get tired, living so long.
I hope than when you are lying

Under the ground like me your lives will appear
As good and joyful as mine.
No, dear, that's too much hope: you are not so well cared for
As I have been.

And never have known the passionate undivided
Fidelities that I knew.
Your minds are perhaps too active, too many-sided ...
But to me you were true.

You were never masters, but friends. I was your friend.
I loved you well, and was loved. Deep love endures
To the end and far past the end. If this is my end,
I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.

--

The House Dog's Grave (Haig, an English bulldog)
Robinson Jeffers, 1941

And while you are balling your eyes out, here is another, that I have grown to love and believe in...The Rainbow Bridge...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Drunken Picture

Rabbit1970, a recent link-add, posted a shout out to me for linking him, and what is funny is this picture that he put up...I have never seen it, and boy, was it taken at drunk-o'clock. Thanks, Rabbit...and you bring on that film marathon, boy. I'm all about it!
Luv,
SGS

Buddha's Mommy and Daddy!

I just talked with Boo's breeder, and we discussed the next litter of pups they are getting in (not till next Winter;( )But I did find out that Boo's parents are about 5 years old each, the momma is a fawn pug named Pugsley, and the daddy is a black pug named Mugsley. I told Buddha about it. He was very accepting of the fact that his parents were an interracial couple, him being the surrogate of 2 fags, he is pretty progressive with his politics...as long as chicken is involved.
:)
The breeder is sending me pics of his folks...I will post them when they arrive...
Gorgeous evening, great dinner, Yuengling Lager, and all is right.
Luv,
SGS

"I'm doing Hair in Alaska"

This in from Eleasha Gamble...who, from her reports, is the only black woman in Alaska...She was leaving a message for a friend, telling him that she was "Doing Hair in Alaska". She finally heard back from him, and he confessed that he was confused for weeks, wondering why she gave up the business to do hair, and why did she move to Alaska to do it?
I laughed so hard. All is going well with her show, apparently.
Whatever...
I just want her back here.
:)
5 more weeks and counting.

Image of the Week

This is from Sean MacLaughlin...It makes me laugh, then makes me angry...

Huck Finn's Story

(Photo of Jonathan Watkins, Matthew McGloin, and Donovan Hagins)
I went with Amy McWilliams last night to see Huck Finn's Story at Imagination Stage.
Her husband, and my friend, Steve McWilliams in the show. He also served as the Musical Director, and put all the music together for the piece as well.
It was a charming adaptation of the well known story...it was like a traveling jug-band that sets down long enough to tell a story, and then move on. Almost all of the actors in the piece, 6 total, play some sort of jug-bandish instrument when not directly involved in the story telling...
The set is very simple and uses mainly a few crates, some ratty fabric, and a raft, of course.
The music totally makes the piece fly though. Steve McWilliams has chosen very smart song choices, including "I'll Fly Away", "Amazing Grace", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", to name a few.
The cast all give strong performances...Michael John Casey and Jonathan Watkins provide much of the comic relief, and have a good time doing it, too.
I was so proud of my friend Steve, and his fine work on this outstanding show.
It is definitely worth seeing...
Here is a video preview of the show...to see it,CLICK HERE .
Huck Finn's Story runs from March 10th till April 15th. Imagination Stage is located in the heart of downtown Bethesda. For more information,or to buy tickets...click HERE.

Urinetown in real life.

Great. Look what I get notified of, thanks to Arlington Alert.

Major water main break in DC. Significant water outages throughout surrounding areas. Check
media for more info. SH

Sent by Arlington County OEM to All users (cell phones, pagers, e-mail) through
Arlington Alert
....powered by the Roam Secure Alert Network
---

Fantastic. Just what I wanted for Christmas. Happy Sunday, Yinz.

In the Shoes of...J. Fred Shiffman

For those who are privileged to know, J.Fred Shiffman is DC royalty. He is a tourist attraction in this town, having been a staple of amazing theatre here since the early 80's.
Here is his official Bio: "J. Fred Shiffman last appeared at Arena Stage as Carpenter 1 in Molly SmithÂ’s production of Sarah RuhlÂ’s Passion Play, a cycle. Most recently he appeared as Johnny The Priest in Anna Christie, Jabe Torrance in Orpheus Descending, Merlyn in Camelot, Walter Abrahmson in An American Daughter and Captain Brackett in South Pacific. His Arena credits go back two decades, and he has appeared frequently at D.C.Â’s Studio Theatre. He played Bottom in A Midsummer NightÂ’s Dream at San DiegoÂ’s Old Globe, and recorded Barefoot in the Park with Laura Linney and Eric Stoltz for L.A. Theatre Works. He is the recipient of eight Helen Hayes Award nominations, and has twice been presented with the award. He is currently an Affiliated Artist at Arena Stage, and a member of ActorsÂ’ Equity for over two decades."

I have had the Priveledge of getting to know him through Damn Yankees at Arena Stage, and we have formed a gorgeous friendship ever since.
Continuing my men's interview series, "In the Shoes of"...I give you the definitive J. Fred Shiffman interview...

SGS- So how did you get started in this business that we call show?

JFS- I was dragged, kicking and screaming, by dear friends from college. Seems I was a funny guy with a knack for improvisation.

SGS- Where did you get your first big break ?


JFS- I've had a few "big breaks". Putting together some quirky comedy sketches and songs got us to New Playwright's Theatre (now Church Street Theater) and that started it all in 1977. Then Zelda Fichandler and Doug Wager saw me in a musical there, brought me to Arena Stage, bought me my Equity Card and I've worked there, almost exclusively, since 1981. Then, while performing my nightclub act ("An Evening Without Liza Minelli") with Tim Grundmann and Dana Vance, we were "discovered" by three agents from William Morris, signed the next morning, and had a good run doing sketch comedy in NYC.

SGS- Tell us about your experiences at the Church Street theatre doing new
and experimental musicals...

JFS-Not unlike the film, The Big Chill, I emigrated to D.C. with my theater friends from West Virginia University. We were somehow brought to the attention of Harry Bagdasian and Ken Bloom, who were running New Playwright's Theatre. We met with them and, comically enough, they hired us! I say comically because they thought we had a show to produce and we thought they had a show for us to star in. Needless to say, we all had to get to work and throw something together. That was a review called "Sirocco"....it was very successful and spawned "Bride of Sirocco", another review. After that, Ken Bloom talked our writer, Tim Grundmann, into attempting his first book-musical. That was "Nightmare", then "Out to Lunch", "Eddie's Catchy Tunes"....the list goes on. Brad Oscar was a high school student from the Burbs who discovered our particular brand of humor there...maybe he can chip in here.....

SGS- What has been your favorite show or theatrical experience that you have
been involved in?

JFS- That's tough after 30 years in the biz! Much of my work with Sarah Marshall @ The Studio Theatre comes to mind....certainly Molly's musicals @Arena, and probably the three days I spent with Laura Linney and Eric Stoltz performing and recording "Barefoot in the Park".
...

SGS- Typically, when not onstage or at your day job, what could one find you
doing in your spare time?

JFS- Cooking, uhm...cooking...uh...did I already mention cooking? Other than that, gardening, playing piano......

SGS- You seem to be in very tip-top physical shape...how do you maintain
this?

JFS- I guess pills/liquor/cigarettes...I dunno....maybe diet and exercise. I run and play tennis and was given a good metabolism. I still have 31" waist pants...just like when I entered the seventh grade!

SGS- When was the last time you were inspired by something?
JFS- Honestly, when I saw Matt's "Nevermore". Prior to that, six viewings of Brokeback Mountain.

SGS- What breaks your heart?

JFS- Injustice...of any kind. It's the Libra in me, I reckon!


SGS- What is something that not many know about you?

JFS- I'm an extremely introverted extrovert.

SGS- When is the last time you cried?

JFS-Let's see...it's March 11th. I guess after my last viewing of Brokeback.

SGS- Top five favorite movies...

JFS- Gee....Brokeback/Seven Beauties/Female Trouble/Schindler's List/Casablanca

SGS- What music have you been listening to lately?


JFS- Gwen Stefani/Coldplay/Brokeback Soundtrack/Blackeyed Peas/Dusty Springfield (forever)......

SGS- Favorite actors?

JFS-Geez.....Ralph Fiennes/Ian Merrill Peakes(sp?)(from those Folger shows)/ Ed Gero/Giancarlo Giannini

SGS- Actresses?

JFS- Judy Dench/Kathy Bates/Divine/Cherry Jones/Laura Linney

SGS- What makes you happy?

JFS- food/friends/wine

SGS- Turn-offs?

JFS- liars/traffic/Right Wing Christians/

SGS- A simple truth that you have learned?

JFS- " do unto others....."

SGS-Advice to those just starting in this business?
JFS- Have something to fall back on...and find time to fall back on it. It's restorative.

Thanks, Uncle Karmine...I will see you soon.
G'Night, all...
Luv,
SGS

Lazy Days...

I took my underprivileged pooch to the dog park today...He was dying to get out and enjoy the sunshine. He had such a great time, and capped it all off with a romp in the creek that runs through the park.
He is so out of shape from his winter hibernation period...(like his Daddy)(Me)..it was so funny, because he really lost his steam pretty fast. Then He and I walked over to Shirlington to say hellos to the other Daddy. (Who greeted him with paper towels to dry him, and a makeshift water dish full of H2o( a take-out container). We also ran into our good buddy, J. Fred Schiffman, who was also in Shirleyville workin the hours away. Buddha was SO excited to see the other Daddy, AND his new buddy!
Then Buddha and I walked back to the car and drove to Pro-Feed, the expensive little yuppy-puppy store that we buy his ridiculously expensive "All-Protein/ No-Grain/ Low Carb" food that we have to feed him, because apparently, he is allergic to grain...(Does this sound like anyone I know? Hmmm...). I have never actually taken him into the Pro-Feed, and it was the funniest thing I have seen in quite some time.
He cruised the low racks of toys, checking out every single one of them. I waited to see which one he would pick up and guilt me into buying...well, just like his Daddy, he is more of a window shopper than a buyer, so after a good sniff, he was over the toy department. In truth, he was just plainly exhausted.

I bought him a new bottle of shampoo, since...well...since the other bottle was in the shower when the shit came up from the drains, and, well, we threw it out.
So then I brought him home and gave him a bath...
Oh, the dreaded bath...
After that torture was over, he raged through the house like a maniac, then finally tuckered out on the couch. Thank God.
I am quickly cooking a dish of stuffed shells before Amy McWilliams picks me up and whisks me to Bethesda for the evening.
We are going to see her hubster in Huck Finn's Story at Imagination stage. I'll report more on that later. TTFN.
SGS

NEW LINK!!!

My dear friend, Donna Mig has launced a blog of her own. Check her out on the right link bar. She is a frequent commenter on my site, and please do her the same duty.
Luv,
SGS

In the Shoes of...Sean MacLaughlin

Ok, folks...I have deleted my Daddy entries on this blog...I just couldn't deal with scrolling down and being saddened by it. He is much better, and awaiting test results at home. That is that. Thanks for the prayers. And now for something completely different. A new interview series...
The first in my men's interview series focuses on my good buddy, Sean MacLaughlin. Signature audiences remember him from Grand Hotel, The Gospel According to Fishman, Follies, The Rink in Concert, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and the original reading of One Red Flower. He has appeared locally at the Kennedy Center, and many other places. He left our fair city for the bright lights of NYC to do Bombay Dreams, The Woman in White, and the soon to open Lestat. I caught up with the man who I consider a very dear friend of mine recently, and here are the spoils...


SGS-Sean...tell the folks at home how we first met, and the story behind it...

SM- So I am this kid right outta college, I haven't even moved from home yet- I am still at the teet - I am on my way from DC to New York for a Signature Theatre audition. Marsha, the beautiful lady from the theatre, told me that 2 other guys from Signature were going to be on my flight. I swear to GOD, the first guy was Simon from American Idol. We talked for a bit- well, he talked and I listened. It was cool, but It was friendly banter.


Next there was this guy who wore safety pins in his shit and pants and had spikey hair- and his svelte boyfriend... Steve. I knew I would like Stephen because he looked as nervous as I was. My nerves came from fear of auditioning and his came from flying. We made a perfect pair. All three of us talked for about 10 minutes and then we boarded the plane. Although we weren't all next to each other in the flight, Steve and I were connected by something greater: Musical Theatre.
While waiting for take off, I put my $2 headphones on and clicked through the channels on the armrest. Once I found the best channel in the plane (that wasn't Yanni, yo-yo Ma, or Joni Mitchell) I turned around and screamed because the music was so loud and I'm a tool, "Steve!! Turn it to channel 13!" I thought he might appreciate it.... even if it was playing the whole CD of Robert Goulet's "Camelot". From that day we were the best of friends. We finished that audition, got to the airport bar- drank, got on the plane, drank, got off the plane and went to Cap City... and Drank more. Those were Good times. I still don't remember how I got home from DC to Petersburg, VA that night...Thanks R. Scott.





SGS-When preparing for your role as Eric, front desk in Grand Hotel, how did you try to get the feeling of a straight man getting hit on by a sinister gay man? {Rhona-played by the very straight Tom Simpson}...I mean...I can't imagine that has ever happened to you before??

SM- I went to alot of Leather bars...






SGS-We were doing Grand Hotel during 9/11. Where were you on 9/11?


SM- R. Scott and I went to New York for an Audition 9/10. We woke up the next morning to the news - and it was a really strange feeling- even though this terror was going on about 90 blocks away, no one in the area of 96th and Lex knew what was going on. Not to mention I couldn't even call family and friends to tell them we were alright, because the phone towers were down.

It is funny when tragedy hits- you think the strangest things... I thought- Oh God -- we're going to miss the show tonight.
Messed up.
The GW Bridge opened that night and we were able to leave at 9pm. Driving out of the city we saw the fires of the towers, driving into Arlington, we saw the smoldering Pentagon. It was one hell of a night.


SGS-Do you remember the talk back we had with the audience on September 12th?


SM- IT was was wonderfully Strange. After the previous day, I was surprised that people would still show up for a show. They came to escape. Randomly, I can't remember, but I think it was set up to be a show talk back. It turned into this roundtable discussion... a forum to vent about anything that just happened. It was extremely cathartic. That cast and show was phenomenal not JUST because it was a brilliant piece of work, but because of that day.



SGS- What was the best part of working on Follies at Signature?
Photo of Will Gartshore, Tracy Olivera, Sean, and A.K. Brink)


SM- Geez, what wasn't. We were packed into that theatre like rats- we loved each other so much- the show was amazing - the loved flowed like wine... wow that sounds so gay.

The love and relationships that were created from that show will last forever... I feel like I have another mom (Flo)... and it is one of the best productions I have ever been a part of...
But, I would have to say the best part was smoking on stage. The show was fantastic and I was lucky to be able to play that part. Young Ben was a FUN role- BUT- I always wanted to smoke on stage and that was a first... until people got sick from the smoke...



SGS- Any special memories from The Rink in concert? I thought you were particularly good in that part...not that you weren't in any others, but, you know.



SM- Favorite memories -Lynn Filusch- she Rocked the house with all her stuff - Eleasha Gamble- Sang- she didn't sing- she sang. But - my special memory is performing that show in that space. It was freeing and God that music is incredible... Being able to sing Not Enough Magic and Blue Crystal out there is a memory I have striven to re-enact. Least Favorite memory- Mosquitoes


SGS-Tell me your memories from the DC Sniper attacks...

SM- I drove a white van with ladder racks. I didn't drive that week because my accelerator pedal broken and I was waiting for a new on to come in the mail. Even if my car wasn't broken- I wouldn't drive that POS around- I don't want the cops yanking me out and putting a gun to my head just to check the van (Yeah-they did that). Since I was Car-less, Steve would take me out to go over to his place- or he would come over to mine and make t-shirt prints and download music...we're geeks. Whenever we left the apartment or house- we would run for cover. You would think that we were in the middle of freekin' dessert storm. We were in the parking lot of Giant and we ran from his car into the store (not in a straight line- you have to zig-zag so the bullet doesn't hit you). People in the stores were laughing at us, but even if we look like ninnys- we weren't getting shot.


The day after the sniper was caught- I fixed my van, drove to Stephen's old place and scared a bunch of people in the neighborhood with my white van with ladder racks... I think I saw somebody running in a zig-zag pattern into the woods.



SGS-We could discuss A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum...but...should we?



SM- ...Wasn't Floyd Brilliant...



SGS-And where were you on the morning of December 5th, 2003?


SM- Wow, It really was that long ago. Asleep on the pleather couch in your old house. The night before we were prepping for Buddah's B-day and after all the prep I crashed furiously in the living room. I had a dream about Mattie burning newspapers and the woke up to the sound of Steven Yelling my name. I could go into details, but 3 things I will always remember the most from that morning- 1) The tone def girl on the TODAY show waking you up. 2) you screaming at howler Monkey levels "HURRY (pause) MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE!" While I am on the phone with 911. 3)Me trying to fill a cracked up holey trashcan with water. We still have to talk to the today show and get that girls # for saving our lives and call 911 for a recording.

You know as terrible as that day was, so many wonderful things came out of it.




SGS-We have been through SO MANY tragedies together, yet so many fantastic times. Yet you've still never made a pass at me. Explain this in detail...{just kidding, Matt}-Umm...Go on, Sean...

SM- Whenever I stay over (which is alot) I go downstairs and watch you sleep... it's better that way...



SGS- Can you tell me of your greatest role of all, starring alongside Tracy Olivera, myself, R. Scott Thompson, Matt Conner, and Ryan Dean in the motion pictures, Snuff Film, and Crazy from the Heat...


SM- It was a hard nights work. Murder- my poor drunken improv skills - Mystery - and skin...Ito. I would say my finest work- but- out shone by Tracy's Devo moment.


SGS- So then you were a punk and moved to NYC, and have done like..what 3 Broadway shows already? And what were they...Carrie the Musical, PrettyBelle the musical, and By Jeeves? Was that it?

SM- Nice. Yes- 2 Webber's 1 John -sounds like a porn. BUT Lestat is going to be Awesome. We had a run through today and I got chills- not just because of the piece, but because I thought- wow- I am in a show that has LOTS of Potential and is FANTASTIC!.



SGS- I'm totally kidding, and you know that...I am so proud of you for having the courage to go up there and take things by the balls. You big Tool. What music have you been listening to...(besides Lestat)..

SM- Mostly James Blunt, Gavin Degraw, John Legend, Kanye West, and Skid Row... Yeah I said it.



SGS-What geeky and nerdy place did we go to a few years back where your brother was seriously considering banging a woman old enough to be his Mother?

(Photo of Sean's brother,Matthew, me and Sean with the 3 ladies of the film The Evil Dead)
SM- We went to the Horror Find Weekend Horror Convention. I am damn proud of that and I am pissed I missed the passed 2 years. Matthew (my bro) goes every year and still wants Barbara{Judith O'Dea from "Night of the Living Dead"} - just for bragging rights. The Year we all went- Tracy Lords was there. "When I tell people I went to the horror convention and Tracy Lords was there" - they think I am saying - "I went to the Whore convention and Tracy Lords was there." It makes sense though. What the hell was she doing there anyway?

SGS-OK..here is the faggoty James Lipton-esque section of the interview...Favorite musicals?


SM- A New Brain, Sweeney Todd, The Last 5 Years, Nevermore, Side Show, Jesus Christ Superstar, One Red Flower, The Full Monty
SGS-Dream roles?

SM- Cannibal King in Side Show, Gordo in New Brain, Jamie in Last 5 Years, Jesus or Judas, Roger in Rent, Tommy, The Father in Full Monty
SGS-Favorite role you have done...

SM-Cain/Japheth in Children of Eden SGS- What makes you happy?

SM- Being with my friends and family and watching them all get along- knowing that I brought people together

SGS-What makes you angry?

SM- Bad Drivers- I am a nice guy- until I am behind the wheel.
(Photo of Sean, Buddha and Leslie, Sean's Girlfriend)


SGS- What makes you horny?

SM- Ci Ci's Pizza

SGS-Favorite movies(top 5)-

SM- Swingers, Old School, Stewie the untold Story, The Great Escape, GodFather 2

SGS-Advice to those just starting in the business?

SM- First- don't get in this if it is for the recognition. Do it for the art and know that you are not the best ever- you always have room to learn. Second - Don't rush into some big move to New York until you are ready. Move with contacts, move with a job- but don't move alone and with out a union. And finally--If you aren't in DC already, move to DC. The best thing that ever happened to me was living in DC for 3 years. Not only did I make the best friends anyone could ever have, I got the best training anyone could ever get. I learned from the best... (ie: Signature, Sherri Edelen, etc) The theatres in DC are amazing and you won't find anywhere else that has better taste or selection... I am where I am because of the arts community in DC and Virginia. I miss everyone and everything there and I hope to one day soon get back home and perform.

SGS-Alright, knuckle head. Go memorize..Love and miss you much. To see a clip of the Lestat rehearsal process, click here. You'll see ol' tooley MacLaughlin singing and drinking coffee. Funny stuff.
Lestat- Opening Previews: March 25th; Opening: March 25th at the Palace Theatre. Click here for tickets.

The Aftermath...Part 4

Here is our bedroom put back together.
It's all over. They fixed it all...
Thank god...the sewage week is over...

Nutrition Guidelines that I really dig...

I think I might be more healthy than I thought I was...This from MSN.
:)
SGS

Image of the Week

For all of you Project Runway freaks like me, I found this on Bravo's website, in the portion dedicated to the show. For those of you who saw the episode of the show where Santino constructed a whole skit and imitation of Tim Gunn having a torrid love affair with Andre, ("My Dinner with Andre at Red Lobster", I like to call it), then you will love this picture...which was apparently a goof that Tim and Andre planned afterwards. God, I will miss this show!

Insomnia

I finally fell asleep about 2:30AM...after a long attempt. I awoke at 6AM. From being uncomfortable, and the sunlight streaming in. I fell back asleep till 9. Oh, get this...the home owner is sending an appraiser over to appraise the house between 11 and 12. This was planned long before the septic overload. Heh. I'm sure he'll love to see the downstairs!
This is Matty already sleeping in our makeshift bed. We took the cushions of the couch down and manipulated them like puzzle pieces to form a bed, then covered them with bedding from or real bed. Looks comfortable, right? Don't kid yourself. If you are wondering, the Buddha is soundly asleep, tucked beneath the blankets...

Project Runway Finale...

A sad week for the gays...
First, Brokeback loses the Oscar...
Then, Daniel V. DOESN'T WIN!!?
And Chloe DOES??
I can't go on.
Shit on the carpet, shit on the TV.
Ugh.
The couch is SO uncomfortable.
Alright. I'll try another attempt to go to sleep.
Luv,
SGS

The Aftermath...Part 3

One week ago tomorrow (Thursday), the flood of poo invaded our house. Still, we are couch diving.
Here is the current fan of doom, blowing poo fumes all over the air downstairs. I have come to think of the downstairs of our house as, "The Dead Zone".
The last post relating to this ridiculous event had me much more chipper and optimistic. That bloom has faded fast as I continue to lose sleep night by night.
Here are our clothes, heaped up in a conspicuous pile on our bed. Can't wait to put all that back.

Why?
Here is the timeline.
Thursday-March 2nd-(7AM) The flood occurs.
Thursday-March 2nd-(4PM) The cleaning crew arrives and "cleans" the shower stall and washroom floor. They put a high powered disinfectant on the carpet, peel it back and put high powered fans on it. They tell us that the fans will need to blow for 48 hours in order for them to dry. Which puts them back on Saturday. Me being freaked out by the smell and bacteria threat, decide that we should sleep upstairs until this is all resolved.
Saturday-March 4th-(11AM) After me calling and reminding, oh yes, I'll say the name, Universal Cleaners in Alexandria-(they said, "Oh...I thought we had already finished that job..."), they came at about 2PMish. Replaced the carpet padding, steam cleaned the carpet, put it back to normal. I start to move back into our bedroom.
Saturday-March 4th-(7:30PM)-On our way down to see Jenny Soto Benson in her first night in Nevermore, Matt confesses to me on the way down to the theatre that he went into the closet to grab a shirt that had fallen by the back of the closet wall, and it was soaked. So was the carpet by the back of the closet wall. We get home later that night and I look between and under the washer/dryer. The "cleaning" crew failed to move the washer/dryer to clean under them. Raw sewage still remained underneath, and had bled from the washroom wall into the facing wall of the walk-in closet. You follow me? I am livid.
Sunday-March 5th(all hours)-I leave several messages, all in curt, yet not unrealistic tones. One to the "Property Manager" (hah!), one to the "Professional Cleaners" (hah!)
Monday-March 6th (10AM) I get a call from the "Property Manager", who isn't doing a great job at managing the property, if you asked me. She says, "So what's the problem?"
?
I am aghast. I say, "What part of the message that I left was unclear?"
She tells me that she is going to come over to see this for herself, and maybe take pictures. I say bring it on, but hurry it up, I gotta get to work.
30 minutes pass, although her office is less than 4 blocks away. Nice.
She comes to the door, and what I had imagined {from her voice} was a woman in her mid-fifties, maybe a silk scarf sloppily knotted around her chicken-like neck, frizzy and wild hair that is being poorly restrained by a navy blue banana clip, and some sort of sailor-striped tee with leggings and maybe a librarian sweater-jacket of beige overtop. (Seriously, that's what I saw in my head when I talked to her).
What walked in was a mid-forties vixen with blond hair...well, close to platinum, severe make-up, a tight black dress and a blood-red scarf around her neck. (I was right about the scarf, at least).
She looked like a cross between Cha-Cha from Grease the movie/Joan Rivers/ and Amanda Lepore. Mostly the latter.
While patiently waiting for the slapper to arrive, I printed out two 8x10 shots of the sewage exploding in glorious technicolor. (Yes, the same ones so disgustingly featured on this very blog). I wanted to give them to her to keep in her records, and also, she said that she wanted to take pictures, so I figured I would give her mine, so that she would have an idea of the level of poo that there actually was before it resided.
I started to walk her downstairs when she came in, and I couldn't help but ask her...
"I'm sorry, but I guess I'm confused why you wanted to come here. You said you wanted to take pictures, but brought no camera. So this isn't an insurance thing. So why?"
"I just wanted to see this with my own eyes.", she coldly blurts.
"So, you don't believe me?"
"It is a bit much to believe.", the slag says.
"Well, Miss," (I always use that as an insult to older women when I need it-especially brazen huzzies who looked like her) (Is that mean?-Good.) "Follow me!"
I show her the carpet that we had newly discovered wet. To prove the point, I had a tissue in my pocket and simply placed it on the carpet, and she watched it get soaked. Then I took her around the corner to the washroom. I pushed aside the washer to reveal...you guessed it. Poopies.

I then whip out my 2 pictures, showing her the washroom one, and indicating that the water/feces cocktail came up from the drain, passed under the washer/dryer, and seeped into the closet. The cleaning crew had failed to move the washer dryer, and if they would have, they would have noticed the wall of the closet, and maybe we wouldn't have found it so late. Was this so hard to believe now??
She said, "Fine." and began to leave.
She seemed filled with piss and vinegar.
I couldn't resist this pot shot.
"I'm sorry if I ruined your day, Miss.", I said, as boy-next-doorish as I could manage.
"This situation is just frustrating.", the wench snipes before walking out the front door.
"You bet it is, Miss. And you're not even the one with the shit on your floors.", I smiled my biggest Walmart/Have-a-Nice-Day smile.
No response as she left.
Monday-March 6th(5PM)-The Cleaners arrive and move the washer/dryer, lift the closet carpet and restart the cycle. They say they will be back in 48 hours to finish the process. Those 48 hours passed at 5PM today. No sign of them. I guess I'll be making another phone call in the morning. Here we go again.
Written by Stephen Gregory,
on the 6th of uncomfortable and sleepless couch nights.

Dreamland haunts me still...

PHOTO of Amy McWilliams and Dan Cooney, By Carol Pratt.
DREAMLAND
Edgar Allan Poe, 1844
dialogue-
By each spot the most unholy-
In each nook most melancholy-
There the traveler meets aghast
Sheeted Memories of the Past-

For the heart whose woes are legion
'Tis a peaceful, soothing region-
Bottomless vales and boundless floods,
And chasms, and caves, and Titan woods,
For the heart whose woes are legion
'Tis a peaceful, soothing region-
Mountains toppling evermore
Into seas without a shore;
Seas that restlessly aspire,
Surging, unto skies
Surging, unto skies of fire;
By a route obscure and lonely,
Haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT,
On a black throne reigns upright,
I have reached these lands but newly
From an ultimate dim Thule-
From a wild,weird clime that lieth, sublime,
Out of SPACE- out of TIME.
By the lakes that thus outspread
Their lone waters, lone and dead,-
Their sad waters, sad and chilly
With the snows of the lolling lily,-
By a route obscure and lonely,
Haunted by ill angels only,
From a wild clime that lieth, sublime,
Out of SPACE- out of TIME.
Out of SPACE- out of TIME.
out of TIME.

This song has bored a hole into my brain...


Copywright-Matt Conner-2005

REGISTER!

Many of you have expressed that you love my blog, but don't want to "register" to comment...
DO IT!
It takes 1 minute.
I look at all the stuff I have written about you all, and hear nothing back.
Speak up!
It really is self-explanatory. Take 1 minute and do it!
It is sad not to hear from y'all who are reading(and I know you are) and not have you comment.
Don't make me beg.
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Luv,
SGS

Jarhead

Matt, J. Fred Schiffman, and I watched Jarhead tonight at my house. First we had dinner: Lemon-Pepper Chicken stuffed with Turkey-Bacon, Vegetables(which I did not eat, and wild rice) It was amazing.
Then cocktails and Jake G.
I have one question...why was this movie nominated for nothing?
Many said that it wasn't about anything.
Having a cousin who served in Desert Storm...and yes, I have heard his stories...
It wasn't about anything.

As he had told me...the book(before the movie was made) captured the whole experience perfectly.
Nothing.
Welcome to the Suck.
This is a perfect thesis statement for that war, and the one that followed.
Can no one see that?
See this film. I am reading the book now.
The film is representative of the war experience as it was...
and Jake is naked. Come on.
Rent it.
Luv,
SGS